This year, the new best combined gas-mileage for large pickup trucks is 20 mpg--achieved by versions of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado C15 and the 2014 Ram 1500.

Lighter weight

While Ford lags behind, at 18 mpg combined, it's clear the company will want to meet--and more likely beat--the 20-mpg figure, targeting a combined gas-mileage rating for the best model of its new 2015 F-150 to 21 mpg or higher, possibly as high as 23 mpg.

The company is known to be using much more aluminum in the next F-150, though recent rumors say quality problems in getting acceptable panel quality could delay the new F-150's production launch from six to 10 weeks.

Thus far, there's been no indication that Ford plans to debut the new F-150 pickup truck at the next Detroit Auto Show, which opens to the press three weeks from today.

That could depend on whether Ford can get the alleged problems resolved and keep the truck on track for a summer launch.

Reducing drag

Other likely fuel-saving technologies include active grille shutters (already used on the current Ram pickup), retractable running boards, and a front air dam that can be extended at speed to reduce aerodynamic drag.

Last January, Ford showed these features plus an additional innovation--active wheel shutters--on the Ford Atlas Concept pickup truck, its main concept vehicle at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

Atlas, by the way, is the mythological figure who is strong enough to carry the world on his shoulders. Ford said at the Atlas Concept introduction that many of the people who drive its pickup trucks see themselves that way.

Smaller engines

Another tactic to boost gas mileage is using smaller engines, which are found these days across vehicles in every segment to meet steadily increasing corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) mandates.

The 2015 F-150 will clearly carry on with a powerful and high-torque V-8 at the high end, for towing capacities of 10,000 pounds or more, along with both conventional and turbocharged V-6 engines for higher-volume models.

Ford has been pleasantly surprised by the reception among buyers for its turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 in its large pickups since their launch in early 2011.

Sales of that model are closing in on half a million, promoted as offering the power of a larger non-turbo V-8 with higher EPA fuel-efficiency ratings.

Unlike Chevrolet, with a mid-size 2015 Colorado pickup on the way--which will offer both a gasoline four-cylinder engine and a 2.8-liter diesel four-cylinder as well as a V-6--Ford has said it sees little market for pickups smaller than the full-size F-150.

So a low-volume F-150 variant with a four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic would offer a gas-mileage halo model, even if Ford sold very few.

At the moment, however, that's pure speculation--but then, so was a four-cylinder EcoBoost Mustang just a few years ago.